Title: Flashburn
Chapter 5 – Fade to Black
A/N: I once again apologize to those that have stopped reading. To those still sticking with this story hope you like this update :) thanks
"Yeah hi…will this take long?" Ed asks with an uneasy tone as he remains fixed in place by the door, his left hand on the handle and his brain cursing the fact that he finds the voice somewhat familiar but not sure where he knows it from. He's just a regular utility guy….his brain falsely utters. Let him do his job and get out of here.
"Not long. A bit bright in here?" The man who would later be identified as Tristan McNeil asks in wonder; looking at Ed with a small frown.
"Sure. You wanna get started?" Ed's tone offers impatience as he steps back to allow the 'phony utility' worker into his once secure apartment.
"Yup…only take a few minutes," Tristan replies as he looks around the quiet apartment and then back at Ed; his frowning deepening as he wonders why the seasoned police officer isn't studying him a bit more closely. "Nice to see the sun out…"
"The sun? It's raining out," Ed remarks dryly, his mind recalling what Donna had told him about the weather forecast for the day not more than twenty minutes earlier and knowing their weather didn't change that fast.
"Oh yeah sorry…was muttering to myself about a holiday I have planned. Thought it was my inside voice. You wanna show me where your machines are kept?"
Ed's brain wracks itself for a few seconds as he tries to picture the hallway and which door contained the apartment sized washer and dryer set.
"Second door on the right," Ed directs with a small huff of annoyance. Getting into an argument with the utility guy isn't worth it, his brain reminds him as he feels his fists unflex a little.
Tristan looks at Ed, making no move toward the doors as directed and wondering just what was up. Usually dark glasses like that would be used to keep…the…light out…wait…his evil brain ponders. Can he see me? hmmm….wanting to confirm his suspicions as to why Ed was wearing the dark glasses inside he makes a move toward the kitchen. Normally the dark glasses wouldn't have raised any bells but the fact that he was acting very rigid and tense and not following him around trying to figure out where he'd seen him from was odd.
Then without warning Tristan pulls off his wig, exposing the telltale earring disc, dark hair and basic facial structure and looking right at Ed – nothing. He can't see…this is even better than I expected!
"Mr. Lane?"
Ed hears the voice to his left instead of his right and instantly feels his agitation rise. "Done yet?"
"Almost."
Get your gun…you know where it's kept…his mind finally warns as Ed dares to remove from place; Tristan's steps countering to block his path without him knowing. Sure enough Ed's misguided steps lead him right into Tristan's waiting frame and he quickly steps back in haste.
"Sorry…"
"So the glasses?" Tristan asks smugly as he refits his wig over his head and prepares to make his move. He had planned to come to Ed's apartment, kill him and make it look like a burglary; but with the headstrong officer temporarily out of commission due to sight – his evil mind now races with delight.
"You know maybe you should come back when my wife's home," Ed suggests firmly; his brain warning his lips to keep his anger in check.
"She left you home alone huh. Not very smart."
"Listen…she'll be back any moment so…"
"So she can kick my ass because you can't see to do it yourself?"
The second the voice changes, Ed's panic explodes; his mind racing as to where he's heard the taunt and not taking more than a few seconds to pinpoint it – the warehouse explosion. The man they had been looking for…the hardened killer who kills without rhyme or reason was now standing before him in his own home. He was trapped…alone…unarmed and literally unable to fight back due to his own handicap.
"Pardon?" Ed asks sharply as he backs up a little.
"Oh I think you know exactly who I am now. Don't you?"
Without wasting a second to think, Ed's fist sails through the air and firmly connects with the face of the man the whole police force was now looking for. Tristan's head snaps back and his lips utter a small curse as he feels the crown of a tooth pop off and sail through the air, landing on the floor.
"You will pay for that!"
NOW RUN! His brain commands in haste.
"Going somewhere Officer Lane?" Tristan taunts once more as he easily sidesteps Ed's move, sticks out his leg and forces Ed to stumble backward; his hands clawing at the wall on the way down to his butt. "Guess not," Tristan snickers, his tone forcing Ed's anger to surge.
"I'll make this easier on you. You tell me where you keep your handcuffs and I'll not get blood on your nice clean floors."
MOVE NOW!
Ed's brain registers the fact that Tristan is behind him leaving him no other choice but to quickly push himself up and bolt for the bedroom; his brain racing with where their spare weapons are kept. 'Hid the key to where we keep our guns…' Donna's voice resounds loud and clear just as he's pounced on from behind; Tristan's body slamming into his and taking them both back down to the ground a few feet from the bed.
"HEL…" is all Ed manages before a punch to the jaw forces his head to spin and his words to halt. Tristan pulls back, preparing to deliver his next form of punishment; Ed's mind once again racing as to where he left his phone. Dresser! Ed kicks out, heavily cursing the fact that he misses Tristan; his brain forced to endure his soon to be captor's taunting laugh. His fingers grasp the dresser, inches from the phone when Tristan's arm wraps around his neck and pulls him back.
"HEL…" Ed tries once more only to be stopped by a small 'jab' of the cold end of a needle into his neck. Drugs! "What….what did you…" Ed stammers as Tristan's hand drops the needle and covers his mouth; the other arm still wrapped around his neck.
"Well I didn't really fancy carrying you out of here."
Despite the fact his core temperature was now racing higher, Ed's hands grasp his arm and try desperately to pull it away from his neck. When he can't do that, he tries to punch at Tristan; who sees the blow coming and is easily able to move his head and miss the feeble attempt.
"Gotta try harder Officer Lane," Tristan mocks as Ed's temperature blazes.
"Mmmph…" Ed tries to pull the hand away from his mouth, his breathing starting to shallow. His watery eyes flutter in panic, seeing only darkened shapes but nothing distinct; his ears registering his captor's evil snicker to his right and his mind racing as he's unable to fight back.
"I'll leave the glasses on until we leave…but later…we'll see just what damage I did and can yet do," he grins; Ed's arms starting to go limp and his brain racing in panic.
Donna! ….baby you gotta come home right now…damn you gotta…what the hell did he give me….
"No the drugs won't kill you…that's my job. They're to render you helpless but keep you awake to all the pain that's coming. Too bad you won't be able to see anything," Tristan continues his taunt as his grasp around Ed's neck and mouth loosen; Ed's arms resting uselessly at his sides. "But trust me…you will feel the pain before you die and you will die. Slowly and painfully. Was your fault really," Tristan utters seriously as he pulls out a small roll of clear tape. "You saw my face. No one's ever lived to see my face and tell about it."
"Don't d…" Ed tries in a quiet tone; Tristan ripping off a strip of the clear tape and pressing it down over Ed's lips to silence him for good.
"Road trip! Up you come big guy…" Tristan mocks as he pulls Ed upright; Ed's mind cursing the fact that his body was refusing to heed any command to fight back…run…do something…anything to stall his impending kidnapping.
This can't be…I can't see…fight back…yell out…Ed's mind spirals downward as Tristan's arm moves around his waist and starts leading him toward the dark of their apartment; Tristan too distracted to see that he left behind a piece of DNA evidence that would confirm the SRU's worst fears.
"Hope you told your wife you loved her…the next time you'll see her…oh right…you will never see her again," Tristan laughs meanly as he slams shut the door to their apartment, leading Ed's silent frame toward the back service elevator. Unable to even see if there was anyone around…where he was being taken or what else his captor had planned was making his anger toward himself surge even hire than the anger toward the killer in who's grasp he's now in.
"I am very interested to see how long it will take before your wife finds your body," Tristan chatters away as the elevator finally stops; his hands keeping Ed's arms firmly at their sides. Ed's face is greeted with a blast of cool air, his nose picking up the smell of concrete and car exhaust and his brain registering correctly they were in the basement.
"So now…let's see…" Tristan mocks as he yanks the sunglasses off Ed's face and tosses them away; Ed's ears picking up the clatter a few meters to the right. "Actually that looks kinda nasty."
Not caring about his own pain, Ed's head is finally able to move forward and catch Tristan off guard, sending Tristan backward a few feet but not doing much to impede his captor's kidnapping attempt.
"That was pathetic. Trust me no one is ever going to find you!" Tristan hisses in anger.
Think…focus…you have to find a way…Ed's mind spins in useless circles as he hears a van door being pulled open and then his roughly forced inside. He manages to get his leg up to try to kick Tristan back, but picks up a soft snicker as the door is slammed shut, sealing them both inside.
"Your feeble attempts are actually quite humorous. You know if I had the time I would film it and then post on YouTube – the feisty Officer Lane – taken down a notch."
Without much warning Ed's flipped onto his stomach, Tristan grabbing his wrists as he once again in vain tries to pull them back.
"Hold still! Damn its your fault I couldn't find the cuffs in time and left mine at home!" Tristan huffs as he finally traps Ed's wrists behind his back and then pushes him back down to his stomach and gives him a hearty slap on the back before he moves to his ankles. "I hope the drug is giving you the warm fuzzies…I know it is for me," Tristan continues as he easily captures Ed's feet and binds them with a few strands of tape before leaving Ed on his stomach, firmly bound and gagged and hopping into the driver's seat.
"You know it is a nice day for a road trip…a road trip to hell that is."
Donna! Ed's mind calls out as he struggles to find some kind of give in his bonds. His head slumps back down; the right side of his face actually finding some relief in the cool surface of the van and his brain urging him to keep his eyes closed. As much as he doesn't want to acknowledge the fact that they were in fact useless right now, he knows they are and so keeping his eyes closed would be the lesser of two evils.
Donna…hurry back…Ed's voice trails off as he's carried away further into the heart of the city.
XXXXXXXX
"Thanks Dr. Eng. That is very helpful and encouraging. I know Ed's frustrated but maybe this will help get him into a better mood."
"He just needs to rest his eyes as much as possible."
"He is…trying. We'll see you Monday."
Donna pulls into her parking stall underground about twenty minutes after Tristan's phony van had left the parking lot with her captive husband trapped inside. "Ed's still gonna be frustrated about this," she talks to herself as she opens the trunk and pulls out two bags of groceries and heads for the elevator, her mind still chuckling about her writing down dog food. They had talked about getting a dog…a small apartment sized dog but that notion was quickly tossed out when they realized they'd be doing it more of a disservice as they hardly had time to spend with each other, let alone a pet. She had come up with a plan for a fun weekend for the two of them to spend indoors and hope that when she presents it to Ed, he won't protest too much.
Donna nears their apartment door and pushes the key into the lock, offering the wooden slab before her a small frown as she realizes the deadbolt wasn't locked.
"Honey I'm home," she calls out with a small smile as she enters their quiet apartment. Not getting a response in return she tells herself that maybe Ed is resting as the night before was somewhat restless and to let him rest a bit longer. She puts the rest of the groceries away and then heads toward the bedroom, nothing so far giving any indication that something was indeed very wrong.
"Okay…Ed?" She asks in a bit firmer tone as she nears the bathroom just off the master bedroom, not wanting to startle her husband in case he didn't hear her come in. But when she pokes her head into the quiet area and sees it empty, her panic instantly skyrockets.
"Oh no…" she mutters as she quickly pulls her phone and dials Ed's number. Her lips utter a small gasp as his familiar ringtone shatters the mounting silence, her eyes quickly drawn to the buzzing electronic device on the counter. "Ed!" She calls in a panic as she dials Wordy and races back into the main hallway, her eyes frantically scanning for something not in place.
"Hey Donna what's…"
"Is Ed with you?" She blurts out in haste.
"No…haven't talked to him. Why what's up?"
"I was only gone an hour for groceries…Ed's gone and I don't see…" her voice trails off as she looks at the floor in the hallway, finally spying something that doesn't belong.
"Donna? I'm on my way…"
"Wordy, meet me at the barn!" Donna directs as she hangs up and races for the small cream colored object. "What the hell?" She mumbles to herself as she pulls out a Kleenex and picks it up, carefully wrapping it in the hopes of it being able to confirm a DNA match; her mind not needing much to convince her of who might have her husband.
"Tristan McNeil," she whispers in dread as she hurries out of her apartment and races for the back stairs; remembering not seeing anything amiss in the elevators. "Spike…"
"Hey Donna what's…"
"Spike I know how this might sound…but I think Tristan McNeil has Ed."
"What?"
"He's missing and…I have his phone and…the apartment was empty when I got back and…" she stammers in anxiety.
"I'll call the team and I'll get started on the security from your building."
"Okay," she agrees as she hangs up, her mind racing and her eyes trying desperately to keep panic-filled tears at bay. "Ed…damn baby you better be okay…oh god please let me find him in time," she whispers as she races toward SRU headquarters, calling Tom along the way. Spike had told her some of the things that Tristan had done to the officers he had kidnapped and kept confined for a few days; her stomach wanting to lurch at thinking that Ed wouldn't even be able to see what was coming and…
"Get a grip!?" She orders herself as she slams on the breaks and rushes toward the front door; Wordy pulling up a few seconds later.
XXXXXXXX
Ed's mind tries to pay attention to the sounds outside as he lies helplessly on his side in the back of the phony van travelling at the correct speed; doing nothing to draw attention to itself or its precious cargo inside. He had correctly one time about ten minutes ago that they were in the city but after a few minutes the sounds started to thin out and now they were sporadic at best. Outside city limits? Where? Damn I hate this!
His arms were sluggish at best and even when his brain urged him to roll onto his back and try to find a sharp object to try to free himself with; the command was not heeded in a timely manner. The van comes to a sudden stop, Ed's body jerking to the right and his teeth gritting as he rocks back into place; his captor merely laughing.
"Alright…time for some fresh air," Tristan mocks as he heads into the back, cuts the tape binding Ed's feet and then pulls the side door open. "Fresh air is good for you right?" He slaps Ed on the back as he hauls him to his feet and helps him steady himself outside. "This stays on for now…" Tristan sneers as he pats the tape gag, forcing Ed's jaw to harden. "Course it wouldn't matter as there's no one around but the birds and the bees and trust me they don't care," he laughs as his hand wraps around Ed's arm and he jerks him forward. "You might as well open your eyes Officer Lane, keeping them closed won't spare you any pain. I have no pity nor do I feel any remorse!" He hisses.
However, what Tristan McNeil had failed to realize in his arrogance was that he picked a spot that, while not readily frequented by the locals, it was, on occasion, an area local teens would go to smoke pot or whatever; wanting to escape the world for a few hours and play in the closed down construction site but still be close enough to civilization to not get too lost after they came down off their high or it was time to get home before dark.
The amused set of eyes watches the scene with interest, unable to see the clear tape over Ed's mouth from his hidden vantage point but seeing his wrists bound. However at not seeing a gun by the one holding onto the bald guy and not seeing the bald guy trying to fight back, figures its two guys escaping their world for a little bit of rough role play and decides to just leave them to their sordid fantasy and not get involved.
"Let's go."
Ed's body wants to rebel…wants to pull back but thanks to the effective drugs in his system he still finds his actions sluggish and futile at best that all he can do is inwardly curse as he's dragged toward a waiting door; being pulled inside and finally finding a nugget of energy and trying to pull back. The useless attempt at a protest completely lost on the young interloper outside.
"I'd say not far now but I guess you can't really tell right?" Tristan mocks as he allows Ed's slow steps to slightly stumble on something on the ground; something he knows Ed can't see. But Tristan's hand keeps Ed upright as they head deeper into the dark lair.
Ed's eyes flutter open once more, his mind instantly cursing the fact that the darkness seems thicker and his heart now racing that such tense stress would impede the healing process – which of course would all be moot if he wasn't rescued in time. This can't be happening…his mind inwardly groans. He recalls wanting to complain about the day ahead to Donna and now would give anything to be back at home, listening to her chattering away about something and doing her best to try to make him feel better – his mind now feeling pangs of guilt at pushing her away the past few days when she only wanted to help.
But as he feels the air get colder his nose picks up a faint but distinct smell that makes his stomach turn – dried blood. What the hell? Where am I?
"I guess asking if you're afraid of the dark is moot eh?" Tristan laughs as he starts to slow his pace. He rips the tape off Ed's lips as he brings them both to a complete stop in a small, dark windowless room. "You ready to beg me for your life Officer Lane?"
"Go…to hell," Ed manages with a dry swallow.
"I'm from hell…I'll go back when I'm ready!" Tristan snaps; his face inches from Ed's clenched jaw. "Now it's your turn to go there and wait for ME!" He shouts in anger.
"What the hell do you want?" Ed asks rhetorically, knowing full well the killer's evil intent.
"I have what I want…well almost. Maybe I'll go back and bring your wife here and let you listen as I kill her slowly. Wouldn't that be fun?"
Ed's head finally finds the strength to move to the right and slam into the face of his captor's; Tristan pulling back with an angry curse, Ed's side not escaping the resulting blow.
"I will make you bleed Officer Lane," Tristan whispers as his left hand grabs Ed's neck and his right pushes the cold blade of a buck knife against his lips. "I will make you taste fear!"
Refusing to open his lips to taste the foreign substance Ed tries to pull back, his captor's grasp tightening around his neck and finally forcing him to slightly gasp for air. Then much to his surprise, he feels his wrists being cut free and his captor pulling back.
"I'll tell you what…if you can see which way to exit in the next oh say…ten seconds I'll let you live."
"Bastard," Ed curses as he remains in place. "I'll not give you anything more to gloat over."
"Suit yourself!" Tristan shrugs as he lands a hard blow to Ed's stomach, forcing Ed's body to buckle and nearly sag to the floor; the drugs keeping him slow to react. "Time's up…okay time to…" Tristan's voice trails off as he grabs Ed by the left arm and gives him a good yank toward a wall that Ed cannot see.
"Don't…do this…" Ed grunts as he tries to pull back, yanking his arm free. But in the few seconds that follow he realizes he can't see the exit but knows he has to try to starts to hurry in the opposite direction; Tristan watching in amusement.
"You really don't want to die do you?" Tristan mutters as he hurries after Ed, grabbing him by the back of his sweater before he could actually escape back into the hallway. Tristan slaps a handcuff around Ed's left wrist as he drags him back toward the waiting pipe and wall; the drugs starting to wear off a bit more.
But the fight is unfair and cut short by the fact that Ed wasn't able to see the second hit to the jaw that forces him to stagger backward and the second hit to the stomach that sends him to the floor, Tristan grabbing the other wrist and capturing them above his head to an overhead pipe.
With his wrists captured high in the air above his head, Ed knows that his entire frame is very vulnerable. He pulls on the cuffs as he feels Tristan pull back. What the hell? He's watching? Ed's mind growls as he ceases his useless struggles. But his thoughts are quickly interrupted as he hears the tape being pulled away from its role and his feet once again bound together.
"Yeah…I think I'll go and see what that pretty wife of yours is up to."
"What?" Ed half shouts as his hear rate soars.
"Didn't she tell you we shared a moment? Yes she was so close…in fact I could even tell what flavor or body wash she uses. Vanilla. Very tempting."
"BASTARD!" Ed shouts in anger as he tries in vain to pull himself free.
"That I am and I enjoy it," Tristan smiles; reveling in his merciless taunts, despite the fact that he has no intention of tempting fate twice and was only leaving to get rid of the van. "So be a good boy and wait patiently until I get back."
"You go nea…mmph!" Is all Ed manages before a thick musty cloth is shoved into his mouth and then held in place with a few pieces of the heavy clear tape.
"Sorry…what was that?" Tristan snickers before he lands another hard blow to Ed's tender and vulnerable mid-section. "While I'm gone think about all the things you'll be able to hear but not see…maybe it's for the best. You know you shouldn't die actually seeing what I'll do…the mind is so much worse!"
Ed's anger surges but his wrath is short lived as he feels another 'jab' into his neck; another needle full of the powerful relaxant to keep him awake but subdued.
"Have fun while I'm gone," Tristan calls out as he stands up and heads for the door, pulling it closed and sealing Ed inside his dark prison.
No! This can't be….Donna! His mind grunts as he feels his system starting to slow down again, his wrists pulling on the cuffs but knowing that he's only succeeding in chaffing the skin further and not making any progress at securing his freedom. Donna will get back before him…she has to…she'll see I'm not there and call Wordy…she has to…oh god she has to…
Tristan exits the dilapidated bunker and looks around; once again failing to see the set of eyes watching him intently. This time the onlooker notices only one man emerge and can't help but wonder what happened to the second one? He left him inside? Why? Is he okay? Or is it all part of the game? What's going on? And while in the end curiosity might have killed the cat this time it would help save a life. But it wasn't going to be easy.
HELP ME! Ed tries to call out in vain as the thick, musty darkness starts to consume him.
XXXXXXXX
"This just can't be…" Donna's voice trails off as she paces the area behind Spike's computer; Wordy on the right and Sam on the left; all of them having just watched the footage in their building and seeing how brazenly Tristan McNeil was able to, with a clever disguise, get into the building, up to their apartment and back down with Ed as his placid hostage.
"He must have been drugged. Ed would have fought harder no matter if he could see or not."
"Corresponds to McNeil's MO," Spike mentions as he continues to follow Tristan's van via a few traffic and security camera's. "Two of the tox results back showed the victims had a very powerful muscle relaxant in them. Not enough to put them out but enough to…"
"Keep them awake the entire time they were being tortured," Sam groans as he looks at Spike who slowly nods.
"We'll find him," Wordy tries to assure her.
"If Ed could see, he'd know to get us a message somehow…he…" she stops as her voice catches in her throat as she locks eyes with Wordy and shakes her head. "Why the hell did I leave him alone!" She snaps, angry at herself but drawing all male eyes in the room to her.
"Ed wouldn't have let you babysit him if there was stuff to do," Greg's calm voice is heard as he; Jules and Tom enter the small computer lab.
"I walked right past McNeil!" Donna chastises herself, earning a small look of sympathy from Jules; her fellow SRU female counterpart knowing how worried she'd be if it were her husband missing and feeling just as frustrated.
"Forensic team is there now," Tom informs them. "They might find something that will lead us to where McNeil might have taken Ed."
"I want to find my husband before he…damn it Tom…why the hell did I leave?"
"Any luck on the van's path Spike?" Greg inquires as he gives Donna's shoulder a small comforting squeeze before walking past.
"This guy knows what he's doing and how not to get caught. He's taking his time…not drawing any attention to himself and just…"
"He's arrogant and thinks he won't get caught," Greg replies with a clipped tone as Spike looks up and nods.
"And Ed is blind and can't fight back or see or…" Donna's voice ends with an angry curse.
"Actually Ed's temporary setback might actually save him."
"It'll keep him from seeing what's coming?" Donna counters sharply before her face softens before Greg. "Greg…"
"I'm worried too Donna."
"I know."
"I was going to say that he might think he has more time with Ed because of his handicap and that might buy us a bit more time. From the date stamp on the security footage from your apartment we are only about thirty minutes behind. Spike…do we have a direction?"
"We will…in a few minutes."
"Hey…Ed's a strong guy," Tom speaks to Donna quietly as she nears him at the entrance to the room.
"I found the bandages on the table…the sunglasses in the parking lot and he…Tom I know Ed's strong and his body can endure a lot but what if he…is hit in the face or the eyes…" her voice dies out once more as Wordy nears them. "Dr. Eng said that he had to avoid major stress and to avoid anything around his eyes and now…what if his eyesight is damaged?" She ends with a small, nervous chuckle. "Gosh I'm worried about his eyes when I should be worried about his…damn it I just need him back."
"The last time the officers…Donna they were alone," Wordy tries to reason. "He's come after Ed for a reason, Ed saw him. He might know you're a cop, he might not…but we have a few things in our favor also. We will find him."
"What if his eyes ar…"
"No," Tom interjects. "Don't do this. Let's wait on Spike and see what happens."
"Okay guys I found which direction the van headed…here to the highway and then…"
"No traffic cameras so we don't know which direction he could have gone. Great," Donna groans as Sam gets on the phone and calls for some local assistance.
"We've got uni's patrolling in all three directions the highway branches off into," Sam informs them.
"Got the DNA results back from the tooth fragment," Jules pipes up as she reenters the room.
"Is it McNeil?" Donna dares to inquire.
"It is," Jules nodes as she hands Donna the printout.
"We need to go…" Donna hands the paper back to Jules and offers Greg an anxious stare.
"We don't know which w…"
"Hey is this live?" Wordy asks in haste as all eyes had temporarily diverted from the screens; his fingers quickly pointing to the top of the upper right hand screen.
"Spike, zoom in on that van."
"Copy," Spike replies as his fingers frantically type away on the keyboard, Donna's brain yelling at her heart to keep its rate down and her anxiety in check or else she fears she'll pass out and be useless in her husband's rescue. Hand on Ed…please god let him be okay…please let me get there in time.
"Boss…I found a loc…"
"Where?"
"There's a car there now!" Sam exclaims as they watch a uniformed RCMP cruiser pull up toward the van with the same stolen license number; two uniformed officers get out and head toward the front of the van with their guns drawn.
"Tell them to be careful," Greg warns. "This could turn into a hostage standoff."
"Show us your…." Is all they manage before a bright light is seen followed by a loud explosion followed several gasps in the small room and then…
Silence.
Ed! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
A/N: hope you all liked this angsty/perilous chapter! You know how much Alice loves her whump *evil grin* so please do review before you go and thanks so much! (maybe 1-2 more chaps to wrap thank you all)